AIR LEGEND 2022 – AIR LEGEND

DH 100 MK 6 Vampire, F-AZOO

© Jean-Pierre Touzeau© Jean-Pierre Touzeau© Jean-Pierre Touzeau The De Havilland Vampire, also known as the DH 100, was the second military jet aircraft built by the United Kingdom. Entering service just after the Second World War, it was unique in that it had a twin-boom rear fuselage made of wood. More than 4,500 aircraft were built, some under licence, and used by around 25 different countries until the 1980s.

A400M – Tactical Display

IMG_5742.jpeg A400M tactical display © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Gilles Marty / Spotair © je Dominique Meunier / Spotair Technical specifications Manufacturer: Airbus Defence and Space Engines: 4 Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engines Thrust: 11,000 hp Maximum speed: 780 km/h Range: 8,700 km (unloaded), variable according to mission Operating ceiling: 11,300 m Maximum payload: 37 tonnes Length: 45.1 m Wingspan: 42.4 m Power and precision on an XXL scale The Airbus A400M Atlas, Europe's flagship military transport, impresses with its size and agility in flight. Designed to meet the modern needs of armed forces, it combines strategic and…

Douglas DC-3, F-AZOX

The DC-3, pioneer of air transport The Douglas DC-3, known by its military designation C-47 Skytrain, is one of the most emblematic aircraft of the 20th century. First flown in December 1935, this twin-engine aircraft revolutionised air transport through its reliability, robustness and comfort. Transformed for the needs of the war, the C-47 became a key player in the Second World War: a hero of the Normandy Landings, it dropped the American paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd Airborne on the night of 5 to 6 June 1944. It was also involved on all fronts, from the Pacific to Russia,…

FLY & FUN, L-39 ALBATROS x2

The albatross A former Czech military trainer, the L-39 Albatros is a two-seater, single-engine aircraft renowned for its robustness, reliability and exceptional flying qualities. Designed by Aero Vodochody in the 1970s, it is one of the most widely used training jets in the world: more than 2,800 have been produced and used by over 30 air forces, for both training and light support missions. The virtuosity of formation flying The Fly & Fun formation, based at Reims-Prunay, flies these elegant jets in a display of precision, harmony and passion. Created in 2014 under the name ‘Sparflex formation’, the team has…

DH 100 Vampire, F-AZHX

DH 100 MK 6 VAMPIRE, F-AZHXDH 100 MK 6 VAMPIRE, F-AZHX Technical specifications Manufacturer: de Havilland Aircraft CompanyEngine: 1 × de Havilland Goblin 35Thrust: 1,500 kg (3,350 lbf)Maximum speed: 882 km/hRange: approximately 1,200 kmOperating ceiling: 12,200 mLength: 9.37 metresWingspan: 11.58 mArmament: 4 Hispano 20 mm cannons + baskets of rockets or bombs in armed configurationYear of design: 1943 / First commissioning: 1946 A pioneer in jet aviation The Royal Air Force's first operational jet fighter after the Second World War, the de Havilland Vampire embodies the technological transition from propeller-driven fighters to the jet age. Its recognisable silhouette, with its…

North American T-6, F-HLEA

A legend in military training Nicknamed the ‘Pilot Maker’ by the Americans, the T-6 Texan (or Harvard in Commonwealth countries) trained thousands of Allied pilots during the Second World War and beyond. An advanced training aircraft, it was used to learn the complex manoeuvres required to fly fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and the Spitfire. Its tandem cockpit, sliding canopy and ability to simulate the behaviour of combat aircraft made it an essential part of military pilot training. Flying with Aero Vintage Academy F-HLEA, based at La Ferté-Alais, is operated by the passionate team at Aero Vintage Academy. In…

Noratlas, F-AZVM

An aircraft for a modern army In the aftermath of the Second World War, the French Air Force needed a military transport aircraft adapted to the new logistical and operational requirements. Faced with a motley fleet of Douglas C-47 ‘Dakota’ and Junkers Ju 52 ‘Toucan’ aircraft, the need for a robust, versatile aircraft specifically designed for troop and equipment parachuting missions was obvious. So in 1948, the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord (SNCAN) launched the development of a new aircraft with a bold design: the Nord 2501 Noratlas. A unique architecture for demanding missions The Noratlas is characterised…

T-6, F-AZTL

History of the T-6 Texan Developed in the late 1930s, the T-6 Texan was the training aircraft for several generations of pilots, playing a key role in military pilot training. Between 1935 and 1945, more than 15,000 units were produced by North American in the United States and used by nearly 30 countries (France, China, Australia, Great Britain, Honduras, Canada, etc.). In France, it was used at the Marrakech and Cognac training bases before being replaced by the Fouga CM 170. It was also used in operations in Algeria and Morocco in the fight against guerrilla warfare (1956–1960). Its…

Phénix parachutists

Équipe PhénixÉquipe PhénixÉquipe Phénix Phénix Team: Parachutists of the French Air ForceParachute commandos, parachute riflemen, weapons mechanics, armourers, firefighters, environmental equipment mechanics, logisticians, test parachutists and fighter pilots... The members of the Phénix team of Ambassadeurs parachutistes de l'Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (APAAE) criss-cross France to carry out demonstration jumps.The Phénix team of Air Force and Space Force paratrooper ambassadors is made up of officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, with specialities as varied as paratrooper commando, paratrooper rifleman, aircraft mechanic, armourer, firefighter, environmental equipment mechanic, logistician, test paratrooper or fighter pilot, to name but a few. APAAE's…

Meetings with Editions Paquet authors

The list of authors for the next edition will be confirmed soon. Below are some of the AIR LEGEND regulars Lucio Perionotto Olivier Dauger Romain Hugault Gyula POZSGAY Antoine Crespin